Help pouring into St Bess, Mayor Solomon grateful

WESTERN BUREAU:

Buoyed by the overwhelming support that has been pouring into St Elizabeth in the aftermath of the devastation caused by Hurricane Beryl, a grateful Black River Mayor Richard Solomon is hoping that more help will be forthcoming.

“Any help we can get from local partners, international partners and citizens alike is welcomed, because this is what really tests our mettle as a people when we can come together and be our brother’s keeper,” said Solomon, following yesterday’s monthly meeting of the St Elizabeth Municipal Corporation, where he serves as chairman.

Solomon is urging the other parishes, especially those who escaped the wrath of the hurricane, to consider coming to the assistance of St Elizabeth, which now faces an uncertain future based on the extent of the damage done to infrastructure and the agricultural sector.

“This is the time that we need the help, this time around, it is St Elizabeth, the next time around it could be another parish. So, we are asking that, where necessary, they can assist us with the necessary resources, even people from other parishes could come to assist us to get back on our feet. For example, the JPS (Jamaica Public Service Company) can pull some of their units from other parishes that are not of priority, to sort of help St Elizabeth.”

At the outset of the meeting, Solomon listed several entities who stepped forward and have been providing much-needed assistance to bring as much comfort as possible to the many persons who have been dislocated by the hurricane, which ripped off roofs, flooded low-lying communities, and disrupted electricity and water supply.

Among those listed were: The Sandals Foundation, which donated 1,000 cases of water; the NCB Foundation, whose chairman Michael Lee-Chin was in the parish on Thursday coordinating assistance; international donor group My Medic, which provided power saws, drills and other tools; the USAID, which has committed to providing millions of dollars in support; the International Medical Corp, which is offering assistance at public health facilities; and the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, which is providing relief supplies, care packages and other supplies.

COORDINATED

The mayor also expressed gratitude to the various celebrities with ties to St Elizabeth who have stepped forward to provide much-needed assistance to affected residents. Dancehall star Shenseea recently posted a video showing care packages she subsequently distributed in the parish.

“I really want to thank the celebrities that have been in the parish assisting our citizens. We really want to acknowledge them and commend them for the effort,” said Solomon. “However, we would really like for them to coordinate with us because, one of the things is, resources will always be limited, and we would not want to be distributing items in the same areas and not identifying other areas of great need.

“We really welcome and appreciate what they are doing but would like to have it done in a coordinated way … our EOC (Emergency Operation Centre) is still activated, so all activities can be planned through our operation,” added Solomon.

Kaydia Brooks, a former resident of St Elizabeth who is now living in the United States, is spearheading an effort to buy 100 generators for affected farmers who are badly affected by the absence of electricity.

“St Elizabeth is Jamaica’s breadbasket, so it is important that our farmers get the help they need to get back into production, because, without the food they are producing, the nation will be without food,” noted Brooks.

adrian.frater@gleanerjm.com